Air New Zealand officially brings back all pre-COVID destinations

Sydney, Australia - May 5, 2014: Air New Zealand Airbus A320 taking off from Sydney Airport.

By James Harrison

Air New Zealand resumed its non-stop service to Chicago yesterday, bringing the airline back to all 29 of its international pre-COVID destinations.

The services will initially operate three times a week with state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, meaning customers flying these routes will be able to enjoy the airline’s innovative Business Premier, Premium Economy and Economy Skycouch.

“This is an exciting time for us. Since New Zealand’s borders reopened, we’ve been slowly resuming services and to now be flying to all our international destinations is a milestone moment for us,” Air New Zealand chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty.

“The North American network plays a key role in Air New Zealand’s rebuild and as the third biggest city in the United States, Chicago is an important destination for us,” she said.

In 2019, visitors from the US spent over $1.5 billion in New Zealand, supporting local tourism and hospitality industries.

With 12,000 visitors from Illinois alone and almost 40 per cent of travellers connecting to Chicago from other US states, that figure is expected to grow even further.

Air New Zealand’s Chicago schedule

Alongside this, the airline announced that it will be bringing back its non-stop flights to Bali in March 2023.

Geraghty said tickets have gone on sale today to Bali, which remains one of the hottest international holiday spots for Kiwis.

“We first flew to Bali in 2012. Our last flight was in 2019 when we flew around 17,000 customers,” Geraghty said.

“It’s awesome to be back offering non-stop services and give Kiwis direct access a tropical paradise that suits any type of travellers.

“Bali regularly features as one our topmost searched destinations – currently in the top five – and we’re expecting interest to be hotter than the Balinese sunshine as Kiwis flock to book a winter getaway.”

Next year, Air New Zealand will fly a seasonal service between 29 March – 27 October 2023. This seasonal service covers April, July and October school holidays and is subject to government and regulatory approvals.

The airline will fly a 787-9 Dreamliner three times weekly in the only non-stop flight between Auckland and Denpasar.

Following Air New Zealand’s customer research on longer flights, Bali will move to the airline’s full-service longhaul, which means all economy customers will receive a meal, inflight entertainment, and a checked bag.

Air New Zealand’s Bali schedule

*Time will be adjusted by one hour during daylight savings (29-31 March and 27 Sep-27 Oct).

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787-9 Dreamliner air new zealand auckland Auckland-Denpasar bali chicago Denpasar Leanne Geraghty